Sources of carbon supporting the fast growth of developing immature moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) culms: inference from carbon isotopes and anatomy

Abstract

Phyllostachys edulis is a spectacularly fast-growing species that completes its height growth within 2 months after the shoot emerges without producing leaves (fast-growing period, FGP). This phase was considered heterotrophic, with the carbon necessary for the growth being transferred from the mature culms via the rhizomes, although previous studies observed key enzymes and anatomical features related to C4-carbon fixation in developing culms. We tested whether C4-photosynthesis or dark-CO2 fixation through anaplerotic reactions significantly contributes to the FGP, resulting in differences in the natural abundance of δ13C in bulk organic matter and organic compounds. Further, pulse-13CO2-labelling was performed on developing culms, either from the surface or from the internal hollow, to ascertain whether significant CO2 fixation occurs in developing culms. δ13C of young shoots and developing culms were higher (-26.3 to -26.9 ‰) compared to all organs of mature bamboos (-28.4 to -30.1 ‰). Developing culms contained chlorophylls, most observed in the skin tissues. After pulse-13CO2-labelling, the polar fraction extracted from the skin tissues was slightly enriched in 13C, and only a weak 13C enrichment was observed in inner tissues. Main carbon source sustaining the FGP was not assimilated by the developing culm, while a limited anaplerotic fixation of respired CO2 cannot be excluded and is more likely than C4-photosynthetic carbon fixation.